Playing for 90
Fansided

Ranking the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees

By Carter Mulvihill

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 31
Next

29. Rui Patricio

LISBON, PORTUGAL – OCTOBER 22: Sporting CPÕs goalkeeper Rui Patricio from Portugal during the Sporting CP v Tondela – Primeira Liga match at Estadio Jose Alvalade on October 22, 2016 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – OCTOBER 22: Sporting CPÕs goalkeeper Rui Patricio from Portugal during the Sporting CP v Tondela – Primeira Liga match at Estadio Jose Alvalade on October 22, 2016 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images) /

The second keeper and the first of three Portuguese internationals on our countdown of the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees if Sporting CP’s Rui Patricio.

Despite possessing a world-class forward named Ronaldo, Portugal chose the grind-it-out method to get through the Euros, and of course, it worked. However, that was only made possible by having a top-drawer defense, and Patricio was certainly at the heart of that. But his country contributions are only half the story.

Patricio helped vault Sporting back into the Champions League by leading the club to the best defensive record in the Portuguese top-flight. By only allowing 21 goals all season, Patricio and Sporting were able to breeze past rivals Porto and only finished two points off of league-winners Benfica.

Though the Champions League draw was unkind to Patricio’s club as Sporting are in a Group F that’s already being dominated by Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, the Portuguese giants are still in prime position to make deep a European run in the Europa League should they bow out after the group stage.

Home/International Soccer